The Failing Economy and It's Effects

As I was reading the end of Chapter 3, I had one of my "good thoughts" the other day while I was freely riding the bus to Mound, Minnesota.

With the economy the way it is, I was thinking that I, right now, have empathy (meaning the ability to re-create another person's perspective, to experience the world from the other's point of view). The reason I say this is because earlier this week, I had the unfortunate pleasure of watching Target workers leaving their Downtown Minneapolis offices with boxes with them. Meaning that they got laid off their jobs because of the ailing economy.

As I was watching them, I had this vision of me doing that. Clearing my locker for the last time, taking my stuff with me as I leave the recreation center for the last time. It's been in the media because of the fact that our governor is cutting funding to cities, cities are left without money to pay for their services. The Pioneer Press reported earlier this week that four departments are on the chopping block: police, fire, libraries and parks.

I was discussing this with a friend that same morning that there's no way that the city will be cutting police and fire. The public will have a fit if there are less police patrolling the streets. You never know when there will be a fire emergency so there will no way that could get cut.

So the next two departments that usually get the ax first is libraries and parks. From reducing hours at libraries and parks to layoffs are all on the table. (Just a note, if this actually happens, the city would need to hire more police since no one will have anywhere to go). If the layoffs where to happen, then I would be the first to go since I am on the bottom of the Recreation Leader seniority list. At this point, I would have sympathy (defined as a view from the other person's situation from your point of view) for people who are in the same boat: being laid off from your job.

But I also see this as a positive. I know losing your job (in anyway) sucks but it will persuade me to do something different. I may take a few month off, collect unemployment and concentrate of school but eventually I'll find something different. Something that I actually would enjoy doing.

Life on Metro Transit

With the high prices of gas, insurance and maintenance, and not to mention looking to save money because of the terrible economy we're in, people are looking for a way to save money or if you don't own a vehicle. People are looking to the bus to get them to and from work. Ridership on buses and the need for spaces at park and ride locations in 2008 went up because of the high gas prices and also partially because of the 35W bridge collapse.

While you get your "normal" people (such as business people, people going to and from other jobs across the metro), you also get what I call the "interesting people". Those are the people who make riding the bus more interesting. While the express rush hour only routes (routes leaving either downtown or the U of M) get mainly business or college people, all day routes that run 7 days a week always makes the best stories.

Because of the fact that I don't own a car, I rely on the bus to get me from home to school, work or a social event. And because of this, I ride at all times of the day and night. At night, it gets really interesting, especially once it gets closer to the weekend. In my opinion, that is like morning for these types of people. Party and cause trouble all night and sleep until late the next afternoon. Although trouble and weirdness can happen at anytime, anyday.

For example, I posted this story on bustales.com back in June 27th, 2007:

Let me start off by saying in the 5 years I’ve been riding the bus, I have never had anything strange happen on Route 70 (the route I ride 7 days a week), at least to me, the quietest route on the Metro Transit system. Today that changed.

It started on 5th & Minnesota at 10:15. This homeless lady hops on and has at least 50 expired transfers in the coin purse. Maybe you know who this person is. She rides the 16 (and other routes) round trip and sometimes sleeps in the 5th Street Transit Center behind the Target Center and has a soft voice.

Anyways, she gets on looking for a transfer. Then asks me to help, which at the point the driver tells me not to since he suspects that person doesn’t have one. After complaining for a few minuets, a transit supervisor happened to be driving down Minnesota Street. After the driver, the lady and the supervisor had a discussion, the driver gave up and told her to get on for free. Well she didn’t. She stayed and talked to the supervisor trying to find a current transfer. As she got off, she yelled at me and giving me this religious mumbo jumbo, which I just kept on saying “Have a Nice Day”. Delayed the bus by 10 minuets. I guess that proves to me even the quitest routes have strange things going on. Ha."

This happened to be true. She didn't have a valid transfer. But kept insisting she had one.

One thing I observe a lot while riding is how people act, like no one is around them. Whether if it's someone talking too loudly on a cell phone, or talking loudly in general can really be interesting. I guess there are some people who really don't care if other people know what's going on in other's lives. Including people announcing to a loved one that she is pregnant, what the plans are for the evening or weekend, what drugs he/she has brought and/or used and the list goes on.

Obviously, I can go all day on this subject. It's something I have to experience with people everyday. If you want to read more bus stories, got to: http://www.bustales.com.

Friday Night Dodgeball

Remember back in elementary school during recess, you would get a bunch of your friends (and maybe a few kids you never met) and play dodgeball? A line of 5-10 kids along a wall, dodging a big red rubber ball and one kid being the thrower through out that peticular game? Yeah that was always fun until someone (or I) got hit in the face. Then it was a mighty fine trip to the nurse's office. I know I spent a lot of quality time there for recess-related activities. Kickball was another sport that I had some injuries from..... Not so much baseball (that was my main sport going into elementary and middle school). Never seemed to get an injury from playing baseball. Hmm, that might be telling me something. Hahaha.

Now that I am a young adult, I learned a different version of dodgeball. Since the 2004 movie Dodgeball came out, it seems that more and more dodgeball leagues are starting, including where I work (I work at a recreation center). Where each team has 6 people on each side with 6 balls laying in the middle of the court. The game goes on until all 6 people on the opposing side is eliminated. We play until the first team gets 6 victories (it's a best out of 11 series). In our league, we have 10 teams in it. At first, I thought it was the stupidest thing in the world, but I actually think it's funny. Just the different reactions everyone has. The different emotions people have.

One thing I have noticed, being a spectator (and referee) and as a player is the emotion and the physical aspects that goes into the game. Emotion such as how hard you throw the ball. The emotion you get if you get hit (whether it's in the chest or in the face). Its really amazing how people act when they get hit or were able to get the victory for their team. Trust me, there were times that I was frustrated when I was the last one standing for my team and lost (and maybe the occasional swear word....). Or when I was the last one standing on won the match for us. However, everyone has different ways of reacting to things.

For example, when I referee, players often have an upset look after I say that they got hit with the ball, but that person didn't know he/she got hit. Or when someone doesn't understand the rules (such as when it bounces off the wall and someone catches it - it's legally a dead ball if it hits the ground or wall). Remember: No one's perfect.

Of course, there is the physical feelings of playing. The couple of times that I have played, I ended up having a sore shoulder for a few days. Even other people who play in the league has had some sort of pain after playing. The thing is: until I need to have surgery, I'll continue to work through the pain. Okay, I might be exaggerating.

Much like any-other sport, you have to go into the game feeling confident that you are going to do well. You know what, forget about you. You and your team have to go into the game feeling confident and ready to win. But as well all know, with any kind of sport, you win some and you lose some. The best thing to do is to accept the loss, and hope for the best possible outcome the next time you play. There's no point of losing one week and then going into the next week with a mentality to lose.

In the textbook, it states that "Feeling confident can make the difference between success and failure in everything from giving a speech to asking for a date, whereas feeling insecure can ruin your chances". It continues to say "Feeling angry or defensive can spoil your time with others, whereas feeling and acting calm will help prevent or solve problems".

Social Needs

During the course of the day, I am only near people (at least that I know) a few times a day. One happens to be in the morning when I have coffee & breakfast with a friend of mine. Afterwards, its off to Inver Hills for a few hours to get caught up on classwork (printing, posting discussions on the board, etc), then it's off to work.

Between the time I leave for Metro Transit route 68 at 9:00am (going to Inver Hills) to the point I arrive at work (it varies from day to day), I am basically on my own. Since I am taking all online classes (I hate taking traditional classroom classes in the winter - I hate to be waiting for the bus when there's a snowstorm or when it's 30 below 0), it limits the time I can be social. In the book, it states that "communication provides a vital link with others", which I think is very true.

I have noticed that when I spend a majority of the day alone, I feel in the dumps. But when I see someone I know and have a friendship for, my spirit rises. Whether it's a friend, family member, a bus driver I know (and I do know a lot) or in my bi-weekly Toastmasters group. I'm not saying I hate being alone, trust me there are times I much rather be alone. For example, when I'm at the library or coffee shop and trying to study or read in general. Or just writing this blog :P... I just want it to be myself and my smooth jazz playing in my ears.

As I go along life, I realize that no matter what, we have to be social in some way, shape and form. Whether its with a co-worker, supervisor, friend, or family member. I am a journalism major so I really need social skills. I'm glad that I am given responsibly of a program with my current job. It is helping me be more social with people, learning about running a program, interacting with my immediate supervisor and supervisor and co-workers in a professional way.

A Thought That Came to Mind

I know this may sound strange but I do some of my best thinking while I am on the bus. I was thinking the other day, while bundled up from head to toe because of the extremely cold weather. After I read the first chapter of Looking Out, Looking In, I thought that is sounded really familiar. Like something I just learned not that long ago.

I thought a little more about it, on the bus heading to Downtown St. Paul, and it clicked to me, "The first chapter of the book is somewhat similar to Introduction to Mass Communications: Media Literacy and Culture." I took a Intro to Mass Communications class last semester at Minneapolis Community & Technical College.

Even though mass communications (defined as "the process of creating shared meaning between mass media and their audiences") focuses more on media and the different types of media (journalism, public relations, advertising, ect), interpersonal communications (defined as communication between two individuals) can relate to it. Even though in Looking Out, Looking In, the model on page 9 is called the "linear communication model". In Intro to Mass Communications, the exact same model is displayed, but is called the "Osgood and Schramm's Model of Communication".

When dealing with mass communications, you are also dealing with interpersonal communications. A news reporter needs good interpersonal skills in order to deliver the story. He/she needs to talk to witnesses of a breaking news story. Witnesses have to tell their story to the reporter or police officer.

Everyday people deal with people in some way, shape or form. Public service employees need to communicate with customer's questions about their service. People who work as stock brokers need to communication with their clients on how Wall Street is doing that day.

As stated in the course text, James Flanigan said "Communication skills will fetch premium pay. The person who talks on the phone to mutual fund investors will have to be even more knowledgeable, efficient, and personable than the bank teller of old. Competition for such jobs won't be based on pay alone but on skills." Basically, what this means, if you have no communication skills, you'll have a hard time getting that promotion.

Through out the semester, I am going to compare my notes from mass communications and interpersonal communications since I am going into the mass communications field after I am all said and done with college. I know there are many more ways to compare mass communications and interpersonal communications but I just wanted to give you my thoughts as I was shivering on a cold morning waiting for the bus!!!!